02/02/2021
Blessed Imbolc!
Imbolc is the cross quarter day between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. It is Celtics in origin but has been adopted and adapted by many cultures, including Norse and Neo-pagans. Thr early church adopted this day and coined it Candlemas.
The holiday was dedicated to the Celtics goddess Brigid, who later became St. Brigette by the church. Brigid was the goddess of hearth & home. It is said that the fires of Brigid never went out and each year the logs from the fires of each home would be lit from a torch from Brigid's fire. The later Christianized term, Candlemas, is a reference to this symbolism (only they used candles to represent the eternal flames).
Imbolc also means "ewe's milk", referencing the time of year when the ewe's milk would come in, dignaking the very first signs of Spring aporoaching.
The story of our modern Groundhog Day came from Imbolc too. The Celtic story went that if old Cailleach, a weather deity, wanted Spring to come sooner, shed make the day grey and cloudy so it would be too miserable to go and gather more firewood, and thus Spring would return sooner (when her firewood ran out). But if she wished for more winter, she'd make the day sunny and would stockpile firewood, thus making the season last longer...as long as her stockpile lasted.
Over time this story was adapted to animals seeing their shadows (shadow on a sunny day means more winter)... snakes, badgers, and groundhogs have all featured in various cultures retelling of the Cailleach story.
Imbolc symbolizes a time of preparation. Getting ready for new beginnings. Clearing out the old to make way for the new. Planning the seeds you will plant, eitheriterally or figuratively.
It is also a time to honor hearth & home, the fires of Brigid, and the growing light from the sun.
Astrologically, the cross quarter day falls on February 3rd this year. But traditionally Imbolc is celebrated the 1st through sundown on the 2nd.
No matter what day you honor this point in the year's cycle, be sure to set clear intentions for the year ahead and take time connect with nature and the changing season's.
We will be doing some spring cleaning, purging clothes that no longer fit my child, planting a fairy container garden, and making lavender cookies. How will you celebrate?